The Immanuel Prophecy
June 2023 |
Few ministries in the Old Testament covered the entire spectrum of God’s redemption plan more than Isaiah. The beginning of his ministry takes place in the sixth chapter when King Uzziah dies, and his son Jotham, and inevitably his son Ahaz, jointly reign upon the throne in Jerusalem. During this transitional period, Old Testament scholar Dr. Robert Chisholm says of Isaiah that, “God commissioned him to be a prophet in 740 BC, the year of King Uzziah’s death.”1 The chapters that ensue are not only the first recorded prophecies of Isaiah, but they are also some of the most important statements ever uttered by a man. Chapters seven through nine compose the Immanuel prophecy, which would greatly impact ancient Israel and would one day alter the course of eternity for all of mankind.
The historical context of the Immanuel prophecy is in the southern portion of Israel, in the land of Judah. This was a period when the Assyrians were asserting control over much of the known world. Political tensions were rising as Assyria continued its expansion west. Chisholm said, “Syria and Israel formed an alliance in an effort to free themselves from Assyrian domination. When they sought to add Judah to their anti-Assyrian coalition, Ahaz refused to join, prompting the Syrians and Israelites to invade their southern neighbor (Isa. 7:1).”2 Ahaz was terrified of the ensuing attack, which prompted this great visit from the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah was sent by God to tell Ahaz not to be afraid because God would fight for him. The Lord even told Ahaz to ask for a sign to build his faith, and all of those in Judah. This sign would show that the Lord was going to save them from their enemies. Rather than asking for a sign, Ahaz refused and said he would not tempt the Lord (Isa. 7:12). On the surface, his refusal sounds humble, but Ahaz had already decided to beg the Assyrians for help and ask them to save him rather than trust God (see II Kings 16:7–8).
Ahaz rejected God’s sign of salvation. The Lord replied that the king was testing His patience, and that He would give Judah a sign anyway. That sign would become known as the Immanuel prophecy. Isaiah said, “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). He went on to say the child would eat butter and honey (Isa. 7:15). This proved to be a metaphor for being able to discern right from wrong. However, before he is old enough to exhibit such discernment, Israel and Syria would be defeated by Assyria.
The first portion of this prophecy sounds great, but the remainder of the chapter tells the rest of the story. God assured Judah that he would bring salvation to them, but because of their unbelief, they would also face judgment. The rest of chapter seven declares that after Syria and Israel fell, Egypt and Assyria would both turn their attention toward Judah, and the people would suffer greatly. Thus, the Immanuel prophecy is uniquely complex in that it proclaims salvation to God’s people, but also marries that salvation with judgment due to unbelief.
The most logical identification of the Immanuel child is relayed at the beginning of chapter eight. Here, a son is born and given the name “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” a name that means “In-speed-spoil-booty-hastens.”3 The name implies plundering one’s enemy. What could have been known only as Immanuel (God with us), is now also known as Maher-shalal-hash-baz (the enemy shall plunder). The same promise brought both redemption and judgment—a sign to humanity that the side we fall to depends on whether we believe.
The historical purpose of this prophecy was that a son would be born, and before that son is old enough to exhibit discernment, God’s Word would be fulfilled. In chapter eight, Israel and Syria are destroyed before this son can even speak. This child is the best historical fulfillment of the promise, but there are parts of the prophecy that lie unfulfilled in the birth of Maher-shalal-hash-baz. It is a beautiful historical picture, but it is a prophetic image that extends into the New Testament where Jesus stands as the completion of this promise.
In Matthew 1:23, an angel is speaking to Joseph and clearly says the child in Mary’s womb is of the Lord. This baby is the fulfillment of the words of Isaiah, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel.” Jesus is the true fulfillment of this prophecy. His name means “Savior,” and He has come into this world to lay down his life to save humanity from their sins. However, for those who reject such a great promise of salvation, Jesus Christ will stand as their judge. Jesus said that He was the chief cornerstone, and He went on to say, “whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matt. 21:44).
In true fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus is declared as Immanuel, the Savior, and the foundation of God’s redemption plan. To those who are broken over their sin and fall on Him in humility, this promised seed will bring salvation. However, to those who reject Jesus Christ, that same promised seed that brought salvation into the world also brings judgment upon the wicked. We can stand before Jesus as our Savior, or we can stand before Him as judge, but one way or another, we will all stand before Immanuel.
REFERENCES:
1Robert B. Chisholm Jr. Handbook on the Prophets (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, A Division Of Baker Publishing Group, 2009), 13.
2Ibid., 28.
3Carl F. Keil, and Delitzsch Franz. Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), Isaiah 8:3.
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